Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Is Blood Pressure Of 135/90 A Cause For Concern?
Question: Hi I would like advice on the following. I am a 55 year old Male 5ft 4ins in height and physically active and fit.
Last November I decided to lose weight as I was 245lbs and was Taking 10 mgs of Doxazozin for blood pressure & 40 mgs of Simvastatin for Cholesterol. Right now my weight is 192lbs & my goal is 175lbs. I have been weight training for years but for the past few months have added Cardio to my training program.
I also live in the UK but work Offshore Angola. At work my Diet & training program is stricter. At home my blood pressure and resting heart beat are quite a bit higher (due to a slightly worse diet & I am afraid too much alcohol) and at work they fall quite considerably. I monitor both with a calibrated Fenix 5x Smart watch & a calibrated wrist pressure monitor. with regular Nurse Pressure check when I am at work. Three months ago my Doctor put me on a 24hr blood pressure monitor and told me there were no high reading and suggested I dropped down to 8mg of Doxazosin. I then went back to work for 28 days and had to decrease down to Zero as the blood pressure & resting heart rate kept falling. I was not able to see him when I was home this time which is why I am asking for a little advice. as the trending is the same and both are dropping without any medication. At home my Highest reading was 135/90 with a average resting heartbeat of around 69bpm now after 5 days it is slowly falling at at present is on average 117/81 on the last reading with an average resting heartbeat of 54 bpm. I expect the average resting heart beat to fall as it did last time I was at work to around 46bpm and blood pressure to drop to an average of around 104 over 74 (the lowest reading recorded was 91/64 in July but for one reading only. during the normal day I maintain around and average of 80-85 bpm & with Cardio it goes up to around highest 135 bpm but falls back to normal as it should. I have attached two spreadsheets which I maintain at work but not at home. I realize that the Reading are probably not medically accurate but they are pretty close to the readings that the nurse takes and they do show a definite trend. I have no adverse symtoms at all and feel healthier than I have done for years. I will see the doctor when I get home but I just wanted a cardiologist opinion before I went to see him. Thanks in Advance Regards XXXXXXX
Last November I decided to lose weight as I was 245lbs and was Taking 10 mgs of Doxazozin for blood pressure & 40 mgs of Simvastatin for Cholesterol. Right now my weight is 192lbs & my goal is 175lbs. I have been weight training for years but for the past few months have added Cardio to my training program.
I also live in the UK but work Offshore Angola. At work my Diet & training program is stricter. At home my blood pressure and resting heart beat are quite a bit higher (due to a slightly worse diet & I am afraid too much alcohol) and at work they fall quite considerably. I monitor both with a calibrated Fenix 5x Smart watch & a calibrated wrist pressure monitor. with regular Nurse Pressure check when I am at work. Three months ago my Doctor put me on a 24hr blood pressure monitor and told me there were no high reading and suggested I dropped down to 8mg of Doxazosin. I then went back to work for 28 days and had to decrease down to Zero as the blood pressure & resting heart rate kept falling. I was not able to see him when I was home this time which is why I am asking for a little advice. as the trending is the same and both are dropping without any medication. At home my Highest reading was 135/90 with a average resting heartbeat of around 69bpm now after 5 days it is slowly falling at at present is on average 117/81 on the last reading with an average resting heartbeat of 54 bpm. I expect the average resting heart beat to fall as it did last time I was at work to around 46bpm and blood pressure to drop to an average of around 104 over 74 (the lowest reading recorded was 91/64 in July but for one reading only. during the normal day I maintain around and average of 80-85 bpm & with Cardio it goes up to around highest 135 bpm but falls back to normal as it should. I have attached two spreadsheets which I maintain at work but not at home. I realize that the Reading are probably not medically accurate but they are pretty close to the readings that the nurse takes and they do show a definite trend. I have no adverse symtoms at all and feel healthier than I have done for years. I will see the doctor when I get home but I just wanted a cardiologist opinion before I went to see him. Thanks in Advance Regards XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX!
Welcome on HCM!
I passed carefully through your medical history and your uploaded blood pressure readings.
As the highest BP value is 135/90 mmHg, it seems that you don't need anti-hypertensive therapy. So coming to this point, reducing up to stopping Doxazosin is a rational decision.
The reason why your blood pressure and heart rate have come to normality may be explained with important weight reduction (the major factor), controlled diet and physical training.
You just need to follow this strategy, being physically active (walking at least 30 min to one hour daily; physical training even better), maintaining and possibly further reducing body weight, avoiding close smoking contact, too much caffeinated beverages and excessive alcohol intake.
Following a strict sleeping schedule is part of a healthy life-style too.
It is important to follow a healthy diet profile, most recommended being Mediterranean diet.
And meanwhile, it is advisable to monitor your blood pressure frequently, check your blood lipid profile and fasting blood glucose level.
If all the above variables are properly controlled, then you may live a healthy and long life as all the other normal individuals.
Just keep walking this way and consult periodically your attending physician.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
In case of any further questions, feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX!
Welcome on HCM!
I passed carefully through your medical history and your uploaded blood pressure readings.
As the highest BP value is 135/90 mmHg, it seems that you don't need anti-hypertensive therapy. So coming to this point, reducing up to stopping Doxazosin is a rational decision.
The reason why your blood pressure and heart rate have come to normality may be explained with important weight reduction (the major factor), controlled diet and physical training.
You just need to follow this strategy, being physically active (walking at least 30 min to one hour daily; physical training even better), maintaining and possibly further reducing body weight, avoiding close smoking contact, too much caffeinated beverages and excessive alcohol intake.
Following a strict sleeping schedule is part of a healthy life-style too.
It is important to follow a healthy diet profile, most recommended being Mediterranean diet.
And meanwhile, it is advisable to monitor your blood pressure frequently, check your blood lipid profile and fasting blood glucose level.
If all the above variables are properly controlled, then you may live a healthy and long life as all the other normal individuals.
Just keep walking this way and consult periodically your attending physician.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
In case of any further questions, feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dr.
OK That sounds good to me I was more worried about the average resting heart beat dropping and setlling at around 46-47 which i am told is lower than normal. And I know 104/74 is also lower than normal especially for my age. I was more worried about the resting heartbeat being low.
As stated i wish to lose around another 8-10lb do you think that will drop my pressures and resting heartbeat lower ?. I will monitor this as always and will see my doctor when I am home.
And yes my blood pressure rises when drinking alcohol when I am at home which is the rewason i am sure for the 135/90 reading as at work alcohol is prohibited which is when my blood pressure returns to much lower reading.
So last two questions are
Can I continue to lose weight safely without a further reduction in blood pressure taking it even lower or do you think it is stabilising.
And the other is just reassurance on the resting average heart beat dropping to around the 47 bpm is ok.
I see my doctor in about 4 weeks time but wish to continue as I am with my stricter fitness program and Diet to lose another 6 lbs before returning home. Again thank you. XXXXXXX
OK That sounds good to me I was more worried about the average resting heart beat dropping and setlling at around 46-47 which i am told is lower than normal. And I know 104/74 is also lower than normal especially for my age. I was more worried about the resting heartbeat being low.
As stated i wish to lose around another 8-10lb do you think that will drop my pressures and resting heartbeat lower ?. I will monitor this as always and will see my doctor when I am home.
And yes my blood pressure rises when drinking alcohol when I am at home which is the rewason i am sure for the 135/90 reading as at work alcohol is prohibited which is when my blood pressure returns to much lower reading.
So last two questions are
Can I continue to lose weight safely without a further reduction in blood pressure taking it even lower or do you think it is stabilising.
And the other is just reassurance on the resting average heart beat dropping to around the 47 bpm is ok.
I see my doctor in about 4 weeks time but wish to continue as I am with my stricter fitness program and Diet to lose another 6 lbs before returning home. Again thank you. XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
As long as you do not have symptoms like lighthededness, shortness of breath or dizziness, these blood pressure values and heart rate values seem to be OK.
It is quite normal in healthy and active persons to have lower heart rate and blood pressure values.
I can not predict if your blood pressure values and heart rate will get lower with further reduce of your body weight.
But, in general, they are reduced up to achieving a new balance in heart rate and blood pressure. Otherwise weight reduction would be a mission impossible.
But this does not happen. Persons feel better with weight reduction and this means that their blood pressure and heart rate values do not drop too much.
A follow up every 6 months with resting ECG and cardiac ultrasound is necessary to be sure that everything is OK with your heart.
I would not recommend performing straining physical activity, as it can impose a great stress to your heart and your muscles.
A healthy and balanced diet is also necessary for a well-being of your heart and your body.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
As long as you do not have symptoms like lighthededness, shortness of breath or dizziness, these blood pressure values and heart rate values seem to be OK.
It is quite normal in healthy and active persons to have lower heart rate and blood pressure values.
I can not predict if your blood pressure values and heart rate will get lower with further reduce of your body weight.
But, in general, they are reduced up to achieving a new balance in heart rate and blood pressure. Otherwise weight reduction would be a mission impossible.
But this does not happen. Persons feel better with weight reduction and this means that their blood pressure and heart rate values do not drop too much.
A follow up every 6 months with resting ECG and cardiac ultrasound is necessary to be sure that everything is OK with your heart.
I would not recommend performing straining physical activity, as it can impose a great stress to your heart and your muscles.
A healthy and balanced diet is also necessary for a well-being of your heart and your body.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
